What are the differences between async/await and callbacks in Node.js?

What are the differences between async/await and callbacks in Node.js?

Async/await is a modern way to handle asynchronous code in Node.js, making it look synchronous. Callbacks, on the other hand, are functions passed as arguments to handle asynchronous operations but can lead to callback hell.

Can you give me an example of both?

Sure! Here's a callback example:

fs.readFile('file.txt', (err, data) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(data);
});

And here's the async/await version:

const data = await fs.promises.readFile('file.txt');
console.log(data);

Which one is better to use?

Async/await is generally preferred for its readability and ease of error handling. However, callbacks can be useful in certain scenarios, especially in older codebases.

Are there any performance differences?

In most cases, the performance difference is negligible. The choice between them should be based on code clarity and maintainability rather than performance.